Santa Catalina School

1500 Mark Thomas Drive

Monterey, CA 93940

14 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on February 23, 2024

The historic campus is beautiful, and the quality of the education is exceptional. But more than that, you will have friends that last your lifetime, a community that strengthens your character, and the kind of resilience that guarantees your success.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2024

Past Parent of Upper School boarding student. A fantastic experience for a young woman. Growth and teaching and experience for the full student. Opportunities and experiences to try new things in a supportive and developmental environment. Women as leaders and communicators in all facets of school life, both academic as well as the boarding environment. Challenging academics at all levels that competes favorably with any and all independent schools in California. Extracurricular experiences second to none, theater is tops in its class, music, choir, orchestra, dance as well as top shelf athletics, for the accomplished athlete as well as for learning and growth.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2024

Most Important Review of Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School:Dear neighbors, please be advised to NEVER send your child to this school. The advertisements will tell you that they are focused on inclusion and a welcoming atmosphere. BUT we have experience the exact opposite! My child was bullied, shamed, and excluded by the other children from the very start of the school year. The other children spread lies about my child that the administration did nothing about. Instead of helping my child, the administration tried to keep it a secret by taking my child out of class many times to have private meetings with my child, which were very intimidating and made my child terrified and distrustful of adults. We, the parents, were not informed about these meetings. The administration put a restraining order and gag order on my child, telling her she was not allowed to be anywhere near her bullies or talk to any of the other kids about the bullies! This caused my child to experience extremely high anxiety and depression and damaged her self esteem. We, the parents, were not told about these restrictions. When we tried to talk to the administration about our concerns for our child, they decided it would be easier to just force our child out of the school than to deal with the bullies, who's families were long time supporters of the school. The school saw my child as an outsider that did not fit their perfect mold, so they used the rumors of the bullies to concoct ridiculous lies about my child and intimidate us into leaving the school. The things they said about my child were hurtful and discriminatory. It was terrible! Our family has been massively traumatized. I was, and still am, shocked by how they mistreated my child just to appease long time attendees. Please please do not be fooled by the commercials you hear on the radio. DO NOT send your child to this school!
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2024

As a parent of both lower and upper school graduates, I truly value the education and experience at Santa Catalina. My children graduated with great confidence, life skills for learning, a well-rounded and solid education, memories, and friends for life.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2023

Santa Catalina School is an exceptional educational experience and the most supportive and nurturing environment I have ever witnessed. We have three very different girls who have all flourished with the incredible array of learning opportunities in the arts, STEM, music, theater, sports, etc. We have been at Santa Catalina for 6 years with two still in the lower school and one now in the high school. We feel truly blessed to be a part of this inclusive, nurturing, and enriching Santa Catalina community. One of our daughters is dyslexic and the learning specialists and teachers have been fantastic catalysts to support her strengths and style of learning. The opportunities in the high school for the development of empowered young women is inspiring to witness. Our sophomore has blossomed into an intelligent, resourceful, confident, and caring young woman who is able to pursue her passions for the theater, honors level learning, and the unique and extraordinary marine biology program. The leadership team is also exceptional and very approachable and accessible. It truly is a fabulous and unique school for learning and growth of the entire child.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2023

Recently, I was a part of Parents’ Weekend at Santa Catalina Upper School participating as a current parent and a member of the Board of Trustees. To me, it was another opportunity where Catalina was able to highlight the many reasons that I am so grateful that my family is a part of this wonderful school community. In our parent teacher conferences, you sensed the passion from the teachers on what they do in the classroom daily. My daughters are the recipients of their knowledge and because of the small classroom size the Catalina faculty truly know how to encourage, support, and motivate them. Parents Weekend also highlighted so many areas outside of the classroom where my daughters get the chance to shine. For me personally, it is seeing the joy on my girls faces when they are competing and representing Catalina on the volleyball court or in the pool with water polo and swim/dive team. Watching them be a part of a team and working together through a season’s ups and downs provides them with so many life lessons. It’s the Catalina traditions that I hear so much about that I savor the elation when my daughters share all the details with me about the special moments. Finally, when you have leadership at the top of a school community that aligns with what you want within your own personal family philosophy (a moral compass, spiritual growth, inclusivity, kindness, friendship, leadership and growth both in and out of the classroom), choosing Catalina was an easy choice and right one for our family and my daughters.
Submitted by other on October 20, 2023

I graduated from Santa Catalina decades ago, but the life lessons and friendships that i made there resonate in my daily personal, spiritual and professional life. Quite simply, Catalina changed my life. Academic excellence, introduction to the arts in all its forms, respect for people from different backgrounds, introduction to great athletic opportunities, and fun campus life made my Catalina years best in class. The location on the Monterey Peninsula and the beautiful campus only enhanced the overall experience.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2019

Amazing place for young women to discover their purpose in life & set her up for a life of leadership & fulfillment.
Submitted by student on May 07, 2018

Bad. The academics and classes were amazing, but the culture is gross. If you aren't a preppy kid that conforms and follows the views and traditions of the school you will feel left out and bullied. And they don't care about your mental health, I suffered from anxiety silently my whole time there and all they did was forcefully ask me if I wanted to leave the school. Other girls with mental health problems wither suffered silently or were made to leave. I spoke against their traditions and views due to my hippy, liberal, and peace education background and was ostracized for it. Don't go here unless you agree with their old school, Catholic, and conservative culture. DON'T GO HERE IF YOU ARE GAY!!!
Submitted by parent on July 20, 2017

Top notch education and preparation for University and life.
Submitted by other on November 29, 2016

Very long story short. This school seemed so amazing at first. However, after my child had depression issues and a bit of a panic attack within the first month of her freshman year; the staff showed their true colors. The staff was quickly very cold, distant and unbelievably cruel -- resulting in us removing her from the program. So buyer beware!!!...If it does not work out...as in our case after just a few weeks of class...you are on the hook for the entire year’s tuition. And financial aid!?!- I would forget about that -- regardless of what they tell you. And now…four years later…I have a bright eyed, beautiful young lady that got her education from a free public High School and is studying medicine at a top tier University – and yes, she is doing fine!
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2011

We chose Catalina for their class size -teacher ratio, a diverse population, and a strong, balanced academic curriculum. We wanted a strong math/science program with a strong arts program. We wanted a Catholic education. Our family is multi ethnic & the diversity of the school's population & curriculum is AMAZING and exactly what we wanted in order to raise a self confident global child. Catalina is a spiritual, academic oasis. Our child has a strong sense of American history and patriotism through the curriculum presented on a regular basis. In Kindergarten our child new the story of George Washington, Rosa Parks, learned about the Japanese culture. There is a COMPASS program, that is dynamite, with focus on leadership and service. (Ask about it...) The administration, faculty & support staff know our child's name and can relay stories of their interaction. When we do not understand/agree with a decisions made w/ our child the school listens and works with us. Catalina is a Blessing for this middle income multi -ethnic Catholic family. We do not receive financial assistance, it is worth every penny.
Submitted by other on July 24, 2011

i'm currently a sophomore here and it's a pretty good school. the academics are great and the overall community is nice too. the campus is gorgeous. the reason why im rating this only 3 stars is because i feel like that unless you are a sports star, a genius, or a art pro then you really lack support. a lot of my friends are one of the above mentioned and they really love it but i'm more of an average joe (jane?) when it comes to sports and arts. even acadamically if you don't have a 3.8 or higher i'd say you'd be considered average at catalina. as another user mentioned, financial aid did decline. compared to last year, my tuition was raised by a couple of hundred dollars. which is a lot. if money really isn't an issue for you, then i'd definitely say go, but if it is an issue then look around for some other alternative schools.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2011

Although financial aid is sometimes offered, it "mysteriously" declines with each successive year! Also, the best way to ensure getting financial aid support for their hefty price tag is to fulfill a minority requirement or to excel in a sport; if your child is simply a good, hard-working student who wants a fair chance, don't count on assistance from either the administration or the ever-dwindling financial aid. Bottomline: there are a number of excellent private schools on the Monterey Peninsula and, from what I've experienced, Catalina has dropped to below the bottom of that list.